Switch-stand.



UNITED sTATEs PATENT oEEIoE;

i HOWARD H. DUDLEY, OF KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI.

SWITCH-STAND.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 2, 1907.

Application filed May 3,1907. Serial No. 371,725.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HOWARD H. DUDLEY, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Kansas City, in the county of Jackson and State of Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Switch- Stands, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in switchstands.

It relates to that class of switch stands provided with a rotatively mounted shaft having a crank for engaging `and moving the switch bar. The object of my invention is to provide a switch stand which will not be damaged by the passage of a car or cars over an improperly set switch.

In carrying my invention into effect I provide means by which the crank of the shaft may be rigidly locked I to the switch stand whereby a car or cars, in passing over an improperly set switch, will cause the switch bar to be bent instead of causing rotation of theshaft with consequent injury to the switch stand or other parts.

The novel features of my invention are hereinafterI fully described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, which illustrate my invention- Figure 1 is a side elevation of a switch stand constructed in accordance with the principles of my invention. Fig. 2 is avertical sectional view, taken tal parallel portions 3 and 4, disposed one above the other, said parallel portions 3 and 4, being secured to the lower ends of .the standards 1. Rotatively mounted in the switch stand in vertical holes `provided through the cap 2 and upper portion 3 of the base, is the vertical shaft 5, vhaving secured to its upper end the usual target or signal 6. The lower end of the shaft 5 is provided with a crank 6, disposed horizontally between the plates or portions, 3 and 4, and provided with means for engaging and moving an ordinary switch bar 7, said engaging means comprising preferably an integral vertical l crank pin 8, disposed on the under side of the crank 6, p v as shown in Fig. 2. Said crank pin Sis of the usual cylindrical form and is pivotally mounted in a vertical hole provided in the adjacent end of the switch bar 7, the other end of said switch bar being connected to the switch rails.

For rotating the shaft 5 an operating lever 9 is provided, said lever being pivotally supported upon a lever supporting means secured to and rotative with the shaft 5. Such lever supporting means comprises preferably, a metal plate I0, folded so as to embrace the lever 9 and shaft 5, said plate 10 being rigidly secured to the shaft 5 in any desired manner, as for instance, by means of a rivet 11, which extends through suitable openings provided in the plate 10 and shaft 5. The lever'9 is pivoted between the two arms of the plate 10 by means of a bolt or rivet 12, which extends through holes provided therefor in the vlever 9 and plate 10. The cap 2 is provided with two peripheral notches 13, adapted to receive therein the lever `9 when said lever is downwardly swung, as shown in Figs. l and 2. Such disposition of the leverv in either of the notches 13 prevents rotation of the shaft 5. 4

To prevent the operation of the switch by any unauthorized person, I provide means for locking the lever 9 in the notch 13 in which it may be located. To effect this locking of the lever 9, said lever is provided with an arm 14, provided with a transverse hole 15,` which, when the lever is in the position shown in Figs. 1 and 2, lies beyond or outside of the Ivertical edges of the two arms of the plate l0. Said hole 15, when so disposed, is adapted to receive the shackle 16 of a padlock 17; The vertical edges of the two arms of the plate 10,2`adjacent the upper end of said plate, are turned toward each other. Such turned portions of the plate 10, denoted by 18, by engagement with the shackle 16, prevent the upward swinging of the lever 9ito a position in which the lever will be out of the recess 13. 1t will be obvious that as the arm 14 is free to pass below the projecting portions 18, that the lever 9 may be swung out of the recesses 13 when the padlock 17 is detached from the arm 14.

The crank 6 and crank pin 8 are provided therethrough with a vertical hole disposed axially relative to the pivotal center of the crank pin 8, and adapted to aline simultaneouslywith vertical openings 19 provided in the plates 3 and 4, said openings being disposed in pairs, one above the other, said pairs being located in positions such that the lever 9 may enter either of the, recesses `13.

A locking member, rotative with theshaft 5, and adapted to enter the axial hole in the crank 6 and crank pin S, and the openings 19 in the plates 3 and 4, is pro- 100 vided. Said locking member ycomprises preferably a vertical pin 20, vertically slidable in holes provided in the horizontal arms of a U-shaped plate 2l, the horizontal arms of which are disposed oneabove the other.

The plate 21v is provided therethrough with a vertical 105 hole in which is need the shaft 5. A U-Shaped bolt 2'2 embraces the shaft 5 and has its arms extending horizontally through the plate 21, the Vends of said arms being threaded andfhaving mounted thereon the securing nuts 23. A key 24, mounted in vertical grooves provided in the shaft 5 and plate 21, serves to prevent rotation of the plate 21 on the shaft 5. For vertically sliding the pin 20, one or more links 25 are pivotally connected at their lower ends to the pin 20 by a transverse pin 2G, the upper ends of said links being pivotally connected to the lever 9 upon opposite sides thereof, by a transverse pin 27.

In operating my invention, the padlock 17 is removed and the lever 9 swung upwardly until it has passed from the recess 13 in which it was located. When the lever 9 is moved upwardly to this position it will, vby means of the links 25, slide the pin 20 upwardly to a position in which the pin will be above the plate 3, thus releasing the crank'6 from engagement with said pin and permittingT the shaft 5 to be rotated by horizontally swinging the lever 9 until said lever 9 is above the other recess 13 ot the cap 2. rIhe lever 9 is then swung downwardly into the adjacent recess 13, thereby causing the pin 20 to be moved downward so as to enter the other set of holes 19 in the plates 3 and 4 and to again enter the hole extending through the crank 6 and crank pins 8. If, now, by accident or inadvertenee, the switch is improperly set for a car or cars passing over the switch the crank 6 being rigidly locked to the switch stand will not be swung by the pressure of the car wheels on the switch rails, but the switch bar 7 will yield and be bent by such pressure and the switch stand will be uninjured. The bent switch bar 7 may be very quickly and easily rebent to its original form.

Various modifications of my invention may be made within the scope of the appended claims without departing from its spirit.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent isz- 1. In a switch stand, the combination with a supporting stand, of a shaft rotatively mounted on said stand and provided with a crank for engaging and moving a switch bar, an operating lever for rotating said shaft and pivotally supported so as to swing relative to said shaft, a locking member for engaging and locking together said crank and said stand, and means actuated by said lever for moving said member into and out of engagement with said stand and crank.

2. In a switch stand, the combination with a supporting stand, of a shaft rotatively mounted on said stand and provided with a crank for engaging and moving a switch bar, an operating lever for rotating said shaft and pivotally supported relative thereto, a locking member for engaging and locking together said crank and said stand and movable with said shaft, and means actuated by said lever for moving said member into and out of engagement with said stand and crank.

3. In a switch stand, the combination with a supporting stand, of a vertical shaft rotatively mounted on said stand and provided with a horizontal crank, an operating lever for rotating said shaft, said lever being pivoted so as to swing vertically, means connected to said shaft and rotative therewith and pivotally supporting said operating lever, a vertically movable member for engaging and locking together said crank and said stand, and means actuated by vertically swinging said lever for moving said member into and out of engagement with said, stand and crank.

4. In a switch stand, the combination with a supporting stand, of a shaft rotatively mounted on said stand and provided with a crank for engaging and moving a switch bar, an operating lever, means carried by said shaft for pivotally supporting the said lever, a locking pin for en- `gaging and locking together said crank and said stand, `and means actuated by the movement of said lever for moving said locking pin into and out of engagement with said stand and said crank.

5. In a switch stand, the combination with a supporting stand, of a shaft rotatively mounted thereon and pro vided with a crank for engaging and moving a switch bar, an operating lever, means rotatable with said shaft for pivotally supporting said lever, a locking pin, means rotatable with said shaft for guiding said locking pin, and means actuated by said lever for moving said pin into and out of locking engagement with said stand and said crank.

G. In a switch stand, the combination with a supportingr stand, of a shaft rotatively mounted thereon and provided with a crank for engaging and moving a switch bar, an operating lever, means rotative with said shaft for pivotally supporting said lever, a slidahle locking pin, lneans rotative with said shaft for guiding said pin, and means actuated by said lever for sliding said pin into and out of locked engagement with said crank and said stand.

7. In a switch stand, the combination with a supporting stand, of a shaft rotatively mounted thereon and provided with a crank for engaging and moving a switch bar, lever supporting means rotative with said shaft, an operating lever pivoted to said lever supporting means, and movable into and out of locked engagement with said stand, a locking member, means rotative with said shaft for guiding said locking member, and means actuated by said lever for moving said locking member into and out of locked engagement with said stand and said crank.

S. In a switch stand, the combination with a supportingl stand provided with a base having two horizontal portions disposed one above the other, of a shaft rotatively mounted on said stand and provided with a crank for engaging and moving a switch bar and located intermediate said horizontal portions of the base, an operatingl lever, means rotatable with said shaft on which said lever is pivotally mounted, a locking member, means rotatable with said-shaft for guiding said locking member, and means actuated by said lever for moving said locking member into and out of locked engagement with said crank and with said horizontal portions of said base.

9, In a switch stand, the combination with a supportingl stand having a base provided with two horizontal portions` disposed one above the other, of a shaft rotatively mounted on said stand and provided with a crank for engaging and moving a switch bar and located intermediate said horizontal portion of said base, means rotatable with said shaft for supporting a lever, an operating lever pivoted to said supporting means, a slidable locking pin, means rotative with said shaft for guiding said locking pin, and means actuated by said lever for sliding said lockingr pin into and out of locked engagement with said crank and with said horizontal portions of said base.

10. In a switch stand, the combination with a supporting stand having two openings, of a shaft rotatively mounted on said stand, and provided with a crank having a crank pin for engaging and movingr a switch har, said crank and crank pin having an axial hole therethrough adapted to aline consecutively with the openings in said stand when said shaft is rotatively lnoved from one posi tion to another, a lever supporting means rotative with said shaft, an operating lever pivotally engaging said lever supporting means, a locking pin insertible through the openings in said stand and with said hole in said crank and crank pin, means rotative with said shaft for guiding said locking pin, and means actuated by said lever for moving said locking pin into and out of the openings in said stand and the hole in said crank. i

11. In a switch stand, the combination with a supporting stand provided with a base having two horizontal portions disposed one above the other, said horizontal portions having vertical openings in alinement with each other, of a vertical shaft rotatively mounted on said stand and provided with a crank having a crank pin for engaging and moving a switch bar, said crank being located intermediate the horizontal portions of said base, said crank and crank pin having therethrough a vertical hole, lever supporting means rotative with said shaft, an operating lever pivoted to said lever supporting means, a vertically movable locking pin insertible through the hole in said crank and crank pin and at the same time through two of said openings in the horizontal portions of said base, means rotative with the axle for guiding said locking pin, and means actuated by said lever for moving said locking pin into and out of said hole in said crank and crank pin and said openings in the horizontal portions of said base.

12. In a switch stand, the combination with a support having two parallel portions having oppositely disposed openings, of a shaft rotatively mounted on said support and provided with a crank having means for pivotally engaging and moving a switch bar, said crank being located between said parallel portions of said support and provided with a hole adapted to aline with the openings in the parallelportions of said support, lever supporting means rotative with said shaft, an operating' lever pivoted to -said lever supporting means, a locking member insertible simultaneously through the hole in said crank and through two holes in the parallel portions of said support, means rotative with said shaft for guiding said locking member, and means actuated by said lever for moving said locking member into and out of said hole and said openings` 13, In a switch stand, the combination with a support ing stand having an opening, of a shaft rotatively mounted on said stand and providedwith a crank arm having means for engaging and moving a switch bar, said crank arm having a hole adapted to aline with the opening in said stand, a locking member insertible in said hole and said opening, means rotative with said shaft for guiding said locking member, means for rotating said shaft, and means connected to said shaft rotating means for moving said locking `member in an'd out of said hole and said opening.

14. In a switch stand, the combination with a supporting stand having two parallel portions provided with openings which aline with each other, of a shaft rotatively mounted on said stand and having a crank located intermediate said parallel portions and provided withv a crank pin for pivotally engaging a switch bar, said crank and crank pin having therethrough a hole adapted to aline simultaneously with two openings in the parallel portions of the stand, a locking member insertible through said openings and said hole, means rotative with said shaft for guiding said locking member, means for rotating said shaft, and means actuated by said shaft rotating means for moving said locking member into and out of said holes and said openings.

15. In a switch stand, the combination with a supporting stand having two horizontal portions disposed one above theother, each of said horizontal portions having therethrough two vertical holes alining respectively with the holes in the other horizontal portion, of a shaft rol tatively mounted in a vertical position on said stand and provided with a horizontal crank arm located intermediate said horizontal portions of the stand and provided with a vertical crank pin for pivotally engaging a switch bal', said crank and crank pin having therethrough a vertical hole adapted to aline with the openings in the horizontal portions of the stand, lever supporting means rotative with said shaft, an operating lever pivoted to said lever supporting means, a locking member insertiblethrough said hole and said openings, means rotative with said shaft for guiding said locking member, and a link pivotally connected to said lever and to said locking member.

1G. In a switch stand, the combination with a supporting stand having two parallel portions provided with oppositely disposed openings, of a shaft rotatively mounted on said stand and provided with a crank disposed intermediate said parallel portions and having a crank pin for pivotally engaging a switch bar, said crank and crank pin having therethrough a hole adapted to aline simultaneously with two of the holes in said horizontal portions, and a locking member movable into and out of said hole and said openings.

17. In a switch stand, the combination with a supporting stand having two parallel portions provided with 'oppositely disposed openings, of a shaft rotatively mounted on said stand and provided with a crank located intermediate said parallel portions and having a crank pin for pivotally engaging a switch`bar, said crank and crank pin hav ing therethrough a hole adapted to aline. simultaneously with two openings in said parallel portions, and a locking pin' slidably movable into and out of said hole and said openings.

In testimony whereof I havesigned my name to this specification in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

HOWARD H. DUDLEY. Witnesses J. C. IRWIN, E. B. HoUsE. 

